NWP Trip Blog – Day 15: Iqaluit

Posted on 21. Sep, 2011 by michelle in Blog

In total, we have sailed 2330 nautical miles from Kugluktuk

It’s time to say farewell to our sturdy ship. Our bags are collected and craned into the zodiacs for the long ride to the Iqaluit shore. Although it is the capital of Nunavut, there isn’t a pier, so we’re prepared for a beach landing. We put on our wet skins and wellies for one last wet landing. It is windy and cold and the long ride into town seems to be a message that winter is quickly descending on the Arctic.

Iqaluit has a population of about 10,000 people and it is the largest community we have encountered since leaving Edmonton two weeks ago. The airport is quite modern and features the benefit of being only a 15 minute walk to downtown (imagine how less stressful air travel would be if you could walk to the airport?). The town is filled with hotels, banks, churches, schools, government buildings and stores. Like everywhere in Nunavut, the town has some very interesting architecture. I love that all the new public buildings being built in the north are not just functional but also innovative. Of course, it was our first Tim Hortons in two weeks, so most of us made the pilgrimage for a doughnut and a double double.

Onwards to Ottawa and then to Toronto. Our last goodbyes finally at the airport baggage carousal. All I can say was that it was a total pleasure travelling with all of you and I hope you will join us for our next expeditions:

• Newfoundland, Labrador and Baffin Island in July 2012
• Antarctica in February 2013
• The Northwest Passage in August, 2013

Thank you all for your tremendous spirit of adventure!

Tags: trip blog